Israeli president holds off on Netanyahu pardon, pushes for possible plea deal in corruption cases
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has decided not to grant an immediate pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his long-running corruption case, instead signaling support for efforts to pursue a potential plea agreement.
Netanyahu has been on trial for six years, facing charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust across three separate cases. He has denied any wrongdoing and has described the proceedings as a “witch hunt.”
Herzog has faced pressure from Netanyahu, his political allies, and U.S. President Donald Trump to issue a pardon, but has instead opted to encourage negotiations. His office said he believes a negotiated resolution may be a more appropriate path at this stage.
“President Isaac Herzog sees reaching an agreement between the parties in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s case as a proper and correct solution,” the president’s office said in a statement. It added that Herzog believes it is preferable to first “exhaust a process that could lead to the formation of an agreement between the parties, outside the walls of the court” before considering a pardon request.
Netanyahu became the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial in 2020. One case alleges he received luxury gifts such as cigars and champagne in exchange for political favors. Another accuses him of influencing media coverage by supporting measures that benefited a newspaper in return for favorable reporting. A third case involves allegations that he advanced regulatory decisions that helped a telecommunications company in exchange for positive coverage from a news outlet.
The prime minister formally requested a pardon in November, prompting Herzog’s office to say it would review the request in consultation with legal officials due to its “significant implications.”
Any plea deal under discussion would likely require Netanyahu to admit wrongdoing and could carry consequences for his political future, including possible resignation. Netanyahu has rejected those terms, calling them unacceptable and arguing that the cases are politically motivated.
In his pardon request, Netanyahu said the prolonged legal proceedings have deepened divisions in the country, adding that national unity is needed to address Israel’s broader challenges.
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